Display-rack.



' A. VANDERVELD.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1913. I

Patented 0011.13, 1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR A. VANDERVBLD.

DISPLAY RAOK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1913. 1,1 1 3 ,386', Patented Oct; 13, 1914.

3 SHEETSS HEET 3.

. forth in the cabinet bodily to present the also rotatable when inforward position in 'bodily movement into the case or cabinet net,usually'consis'ting chiefly of glass, from 7 contact with the rackwhereby itmay be snares PATENT. OFFICE.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GRAND RAPIDSSHOW CASE COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

.liISPLAY-RACK. I

Application filed July 2, 1913. Serial-No. 777,084.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, ANTHONY VANDER- vnnn, a citizen of the'United.State's, aud a resident of the city of Grand l'tapi ls, 1n the county ofKent and State of h'lichigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Display-Racks of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification fullydisclosing the invention.

This invention relates to and is of partic ular utility in connectionwith rotating dis play racks of the kind'and type used in stores for theexhibition of goods for sale, and in particular this 'invention is animprovement in the construction shown in my former Patent N 0.1,032,969, issued July 16, 1912.

In the construction referred to, it. will be noted that the rackstructure is mounted in a" case or cabinet and movable back and rack atthe front of the case. Such rack is the cabinet to present difierentsupporting portions thereof to front position for easy access. and todisplay the goods "carried thereby. Furthermore the rack is locked fromrotation except when at front position and after being drawn to frontposition and rotated, the rack is withheld from until the rock has beenlocated in a predetermined position with respect to the case or cabinet.The construction which guides and limits the movements of the rack isnecessary forthe protection of the case or cabibroken ormarred.

Included in the locking mechanism is a' disk notched in its periphery toreceive a roller carried by a lever, thelever being spring pressed toyieldingly retain the roller in one of the notches, such lever beingreleased to permit movement thereof whenthe rack is in forward positionbut rigidly held against movement when the rack is away from frontposition. When in front position the rack may be rotated, the rollercoming out of the notch and runningonthe edges of the disk. It will beevident that the spring influencing the lever is stretched under thisoperation and that the roller bears against the edges of the disk withgreater force than when it is located lIl a notch. It has been foundthat the pressure of the roller against the disk edges serves to cut andwear away the disk and make smooth operation of the device impossible. 4It is. the primary object of this invention to eliminate thisobjectionable feature, providing a locking, means'which'will hold thePatented Oct. 13, 1914.

- rotating rack member yieldingly in position with a suflicient force toprevent aimless movement thereof when it has been freed for rotation andwhich, when it is rotated, will automatically lessen the force of thepressure of the bearing'parts against each other.

Mcre'specifically it is purposed to control the roller carrying lever byyielding means such that when the roller is in the notch of the disk itwill be held therein with the usual and necessary force, but when therack is rotated and the roller is hearing against the diskedges, thepressure of the roller on the disk will be lessened to a' point muchbelow normal pressure and just sufficient to carry the" roller into thenotches when they come into juxtaposition, instead oflincreasing thebearing pressure of the roller as in the construction noted. And thislessening 'ofpre'ssure is accomplished automatically as the rack isrotated and the roller carried out ofthe disk notch.

For an understanding of the means which these results together withothers not specifically enumerated are secured, refer-- ence should behad to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 isa vertical section centrally of the case or cabinet and therack located therein. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the rackcarriage-and the locking means used in controlling the' rotativemovements of the rack, said locking means beingin position occupied whenthe rack has been pareglly rotated. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ingmeans in position occupied when the rackls inretracted posit on withinthecase or cabinet. F g. 5 IS a front elevation of the display deviceembodying the invention,

similar to Fig. 2 with the p rts of the lockwhich pro parts being brokenaway to bettershow the construction.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar arts throughout the severalviews of the rawings.

The inclosing case or cabinet 1 is of any desired kind or type, and isshown as having a top 2, sides 3 and back 4, which may be of glass, thefront of the case or cabinet being closed by suitable doors (not shown),capable of permitting the opening of the case for access to itscontents. The bottom 5 may be suitably secured in position and above ita distance the floor 6 of the case is located between which and the casebottom the supporting carriage for movably carrying the rack may beconveniently located.

Secured above the base 5 is a frame for carrying the movablecarriage,"said frame comprising side members 7 formed of metal havingflanged upper and lower portions 8 and 9 between which run the rollers10 connected bysuitable axles 11 on which rest the bearing portions 12of the carriage, stops 13 on the carriage serving to maintain therolling supportsfor the carriage in proper relation thereto. If desired,the front and rear portions of the side members 7 may be, connected bycross pieces 14. To prevent any tilting or tipping of the rack andcarriage as they are moved to and from position within the case, therearwardly extendingportion thereof may have secured thereto rollers 16and '17 which bear upon-the under surface of the upper flange of 'thetrack frame as will be evident, reference being had to Fig. 3.

"As shown, from the pedestal portion 18 which is secured thereto bybolts 19. The pedestal has front and rear extending portions 20,formed-as webs connecting the base portion aof the pedestal with itsbearing portion 21. The web portions 20 extend through a suitable slot22 in the floor of the case, the hearing 21 above the floor beingenlarged. A sleeve 23 having aflbearing portion 24 at its upper end isand extends upwardly toward the top of the case or cabinet. a f

Passing throughthe sleeve 23 and the upper and lower bearing portions 21and 24 is the upright shaft 25 which at its upper end may have securedthereto the hub 26 fromect the arms 27 supporting at their outer endsrods 28 or equivalent de- 1 sustained a.

vices for carrying garments or other goods 25, the. carriage hasaisupporting piece 29 of hardened metal-pm which is. hardenedpin30-attached to the preferably .lower end of the shaft'i25, suchhardened block and pin acting as an anti-friction bear- 3 for gcarryingthe. weight: of -.the rack, i

the carriage has-rising theresecured within the bearing 21- to bedisplayed. Below the end of the shaft shaft and goods and permitting theready rotation of the rack.

In this class of devices, when the rack is moved to its position withinthe case it is desirable that it be prevented from rotating owing to theliability of the rack striking the case and breaking or marringit. It isalso desirable that the rack be freed for rotative movement when'itreaches front position in the case, and that when so rotated it belocked and prevented from having bodily movement into the case exceptwhen the rack bars are so positioned that injury to the case is avoidedon accomplishing the bodily movement. These ends are accomplished inapplicants construction as shown by the following means: Secured nearthe lower end of the shaft 25 is a disk 31, :which is provided withdiametrically opposed notches or recesses 32 so related to the rods 28of the rack that -when the recesses are positioned in a line parallelwith the front of the case, the rods will be similarly" positioned andcan be moved into and out of the case or cabinet without liability ofinjury to the case or cabinet by reasonof contact with the rack.Pivotally mounted at 33 on the carriage and adjacent the disk is a lever34which I will roller 35 suitably supported thereon as by a bracket 36as shown, which roller is adaptedto engage either 'of therecesses 32.Also secured to the carriage pivotally at 37-is a lever 38 which may beknown as the lever catch. A spring 39 is attached at one end to levercatch 38 and at its other end is attached to a link arrangement,-thespecific structure of which will be hereinafter described, in suchmanner that its normal influence is to move the roller carried by thelocking lever into the recesses 32 whenever the roller and a recess comeinto juxtaposition, and normally tending also to move the lever catch 38about its pivot in a clockwise direction. One end of the catch isprovided tain times is adapted to be engaged by a lip 41 on thelocking-lever,- the construction beingsuch that when the lip 41 andshouldered tending toward the path of movement of the the pathofmovement of the end 45 0f the lever catch whereby as th carriage'ismoved term the locking lever.. This lever carries a portion 40 areengaged, the locking lever with a shouldered portion 40 which at cer- Iby reference to F1gs. 2," n

' referably carnage. The trip member is positioned in from its rearposition to its front position, the end 45 will pass by the finger ofthe trip but will engage the longer finger 44 with the result that thelever cateli will be moved counter clockwise and move theshouldcrportion 40 thereof out'of engagement with the lip 41 freeing lockinglever 34 that it may have movement about its pivot. The position of theparts in Fig. 3 illustrates this action.

With the parts in position as mdicated in said figure, and after therack has been bodily moved to the front of the case or cabinet, it willbe apparent that the rack may be rotated upon its vertical axis by apull thereon tending to such rotative movement, the roller 35 carried bythe locking lever being forced out of the notch 32 against the action ofthe spring 39, the rack then being permitted rotative movement ineitherdirection and through any desired are of rotation. When, however,a recess 32 comes opposite the roller 35, the roller will enter suchrecess, and the rack parts will be in position to be moved back into thecase without danger of striking the case and injuring it in any way.

When the rack is rotated so that the rods 28 thereof do not lie parallelwith the front of the case, and the roller 35 is forced out of thenotches or recesses 32, the end portion 41 of the locking lever passesover and beyond the shouldered portion of the lever'catch thisprohibiting the clockwise movement of the lever catch, and with the endof the lever catch between fingers 43 and 44 of the trip member, it isevident that the rack cannot be moved toward the rear until suchposition of the parts occurs that the roller 35 seats in one of therecesses 32. Accordingly it is evident that when the rack is rotated sothat the rods 28 thereof would be liableto injure the case if the rack.was

bodily moved to the rear, the rack is locked from such bodily movement,but when the rack is located with reference to the case so that suchinjury is not liable, it is permitted bodily movement but its rotativemovement is prohibited. As a means of stopping the forward bodilymovement of the rack, suitable stops 46 are provided at the front of thecase against which the carriage may strike as it is drawn forward.

The foregoing structure as described is identical with that of my formerpatent heretofore mentioned. In such structure, however, the spring 39is interposed directly between the locking lever 34 and the lever catch38 and is under tension such that the roller 35 bears against the edgesof the recess with considerable force. When the rack is rotated thespring 39 is placed under increased tensionowing to the movement oflever 34 when the roller 35 is carried out of a recess, and the rollerbears with increased pressure against the disk edges. In practice it hasbeen found that the wear of the roller on the disk edges serves incomparatively short time to cause unevenness in the disk edges, cuttingthereof, and in general a ruining ofthe disk such that the rotation ofthe rack is accomplished with difliculty and with much objectionablebinding and noises indicative of defective parts. In this invention itis proposed to eliminate the pressure of the roller on the disk edges toa minimum, leaving only sufficient force acting to press the rolleragainst the disk that the roller will enter the recesses 32 when broughtin proper relation thereto, but at the same time, the force acting toretain the roller in the recess once it is in such recess will be asstrong as in the old structure if desired, or any other degree ofstrength wanted. To these ends the spring 39 so cured at one end to thelever catch has attaclnnent at its other end to a link 47 said linkbeing perforated at one end as shown to permit the attachment. At itsother end link 47 is pivoted at 48' to the free end of a short link 49pivotally mounted at 50 to the carriage. Secured between the end of thelocking lever 34 and the free end of link 49 is another link 51 whichhas pivotal connection with locking lever 34 at one end and pivotalconnection at the pivot 48 with links 47 and 49. Normally with the rackpositioned within the case and theparts of the locking 'mechanism inpositions shown in Fig. 4, the roller 35 is seated in a recess 32,

link 49 lies almost in parallel relation to the front of the carriage,and the line of force.

of spring 39 passes in the direction of line X, the moment arm of suchforce about pivot 50 being equal substantially to the distance betweenpivots 48 and 50. The. moment of force tending to rotate the lockinglever,

' therefore is equal to the force exerted by the spring multiplied bythe moment arm and such arm being-the maximum length, the moment offorce is at its maximum and the roller 35 is pressed with maximum forceagainst the disk when seated in a recess 32. When the rack has beenrotated and the locking parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2, theclockwise movement of the look ing lever 34 caused by the roller 35being forced out of a recess 32, operates the end of the lever to thefront thereby causing link 51 to turn link 49 about its pivot 50 untilittakes a position substantially parallel with the side of the carriage.Link- 47 is carried with link 49 and the spring 39 is placed underincreased tension, but the line of its force is represented by line Y,and the moment arm thereof about pivot 50 is the perpendicular distancefrom line Y to th pivot center. As shown, this in went n is very shortso that the moment force tending to rotate locking lever 34 about itspivot is small notwithstanding the increase greatly shortened momentarm. The force of the. roller 35 bearing against the disk edges islessened very materially, in fact to such an extent that it is scarcelyappreciable. There is no destructive action between the roller and diskduring the rack rotation, but when the roller comes into'positionadjacent the recess 32, the initial force is sufficient to ,cause it tostart to enter the recess, and with its entrance the force increases onaccount of the continual lengthening of the moment arm of the springforce until when it is seated in the recess the force tending to retainit there is at a maximum.

I have shown and described acomplete and operative embodiment of myinvention in which the defects of my former construction are overcome,and the bearing forceo'f the roller automatically lessened with therevolution of the rack. Various dimensional changes in the link andlocking lever mechanism, or changes in. the strength of the spring willpermit of any desired bearing force of the roller against the diskeither when in or out of the recesses. Also various modifications in thespecific structure by which the results desired are secured may beresorted to without departing from my invention. I, accordingly, do notdesire to be limited to the specific structure shown, which isdiagrammatic and illustrative of the invention, but consider myself asentitled to all modifications in structure'z'properly falling within thescope of the appended claims. I

What I claim as new and desire to secul'c'by Letters Patent is 1. In adevice of the character described, a rack mounted for rotation, a diskconnectedto and rotatable with the rack, 'recesses provided in the diskedges, a lever mounted adjacent the disk and having means adapted toengage the recesses in the disk, a spring. connections between the 7spring and lever whereby said means on the lever will be held againstthe disk either in the recesses or against the disk edges and will beheld with greater force when said means islocated in a recess than whenthe rack has been rotated and said means car-' -ried out of a recess.

. ing

'cesses, means connectedwith the lever to to normally engage againstcause said means the 'disk edges either in a recess or aga nst the diskedges between the recesses, said connection of the lever operating meansincludingelements whereby the pressure ofthe means carried by the leveragainst the disk is greater when in the recesses thanwhen out of therecesses.

3. In a device of the character described, a rack mounted for rotation,mechanism associated with the rack for yieldingly holding the rackagainst rotation in a predetermined position, and means included in suchmechanism for diminishing the force of the holding mea'ns acting on therack when the rack has been rotatably moved 1' from such predeterminedposition.

4. In a device of the character a rack mounted for rotation, mechanismassociated with the rack for yieldingly holding it against rotation in apredetermined position, and elements included in such described,

mechanism where-by upon rotative movement of the rack away from suchpredetermined position, the force of the holding means acting onthe'rack is automatically diminished.

5. In a device of the character described, a rack mounted for rotation,mechanism associated with the rack for yieldingly holding'it in apredetermined position, said mechanism including a recessed disk mountedon and rotatable with the rack and a lever mounted adjacent the disk andhaving means to engage the disk edges, and means for lessening thepressure of such means against the disk edges automatically efl'ected onrotation of the rack away from such predetermined position.

6. In a' device of the character described a rack mounted for rotation,a recessed disk mounted on and rotatable with the rack, means to engageagainst the disk edges either in the recesses or between the recesses,means causing said means ,to bear against the disk, and means todiminish the pressure of said means against the disk automaticallyeffected by rotation of the rack, {and disengagement of said bearingmeans from the recesses. I

7. In a device of the character described, a support, a rack mounted forrotation on said support, a disk having recessed edges" connected to androtatable with the rack, a lever pivotallymounted on the supportadjacent the disk and carrying means adapted to bear against the diskedges and seat in the recesses therein, a'link mounted on linkconnecting the lever and the first link,

aspring secured adjacent the support and having connection with thelinks such that its lineof force passes through the point of connectionof the links.

8.I11 a device of the character described,-

.a support, a rack mounted for rotation on..

p the support a disk having recessed "edges connected to and rotatable'with'tlie rack, a

lever PIVOtalhYlllO-llnjletl on thesupportadw.

jac'ent the disk and carr ing means migpt i' v ed to bear against thedisk edges and seat in the recesses therein, a, link pivotally mountedon the support, a second link connecting said link and the lever andhaving pivotal connection to each, a third link pivotally connected tothe other links at their point of connection to each other, and ayielding tension mea'ns secured to said third link and exerting apulling foroe'thereon.

9. In a device of the character-described, a support, a rack mounted forrotation on the support, a disk having recessed edges connected to androtatable with the rack,

a lever pivotally mounted on thesupport adjacent the disk and havingmeans adapted to bear against the disk edges and seat in the recessestherein, a link pivotally mounted on the support beyond the end 'oi' thelever and in front thereof a connection between the lever and linkwhereby when the means on the lever is in the recesses of the disk saidlink lies extended toward the longitudinal center of the support andwhen said means is out of the recesses it lies sub-- stantially parallelwith the longitudinal center llne of the support, and a tension meansconnected with the link tending to, turn it about its pivot.

I 10. .In a device of the character described a support, a rack mountedfor rotation on the support, a disk having diametrically opposedrecesses at its outer edges'connected to and rotatable with the rack, alever pivotally mounted on the support adjacent the disk and havingineans adapted to bear against the disk edges and seat in the re cessestherein, a link pivotally mountedv on the support beyond the end of thelever and in front thereof, a link connection between the levenand linkwhereby when the'means on the lever is in a recess of the disk said linklies substantially parallel with a line joining the recesses and whensaid means is out of the recesses the link lies in a ositionsubstantially at right angles to the rst position, a yielding tensionmeans, and means connecting said tension means to the link.

' 11. In a device of the character described, a rack mounted forrotation, mechanism associated with the rack for holding the rackagainst Y rotation in a predetermined position, and meansincluded insuch mechanisin for diminishing the force of the holding means acting onthe rack when the rack has been rotatively moved from such predeterminedposition;

In testimony whereof, I havev hereunto afiixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

, p nn'rnomf VANDERV'ELD. -.]W itnesses:""

FRANK E. LIvnRA'Non, J r., MInNInH. PRESTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of intents,

Washington, D. 0.

